Interchangeable alignment system for golf putters

ABSTRACT

An alignment system for a golf putter, having a plurality of interchangeable top plates for a putter head, wherein each of the interchangeable top plates has differing alignment indicia.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/530,281, entitled An Interchangeable AlignmentSystem For Golf Putters, filed Dec. 16, 2003, the entire disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for allpurposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to golf putters.

BACKGROUND

Alignment golf putters which help a golfer improve their swing have beenaround for some time. Typically, such systems include a putter withmarkings or lights placed thereon, or with spike(s) extending from arear face of the putter. The golfer watches the putter during the swingand the alignment marks, lights or extensions on the putter assist thegolfer in determining the direction of their swing (so that they sanimprove their swing over time).

Examples of systems which help golfers improve their putting swing arefound in U.S. patent applications 2002/0006833; 2002/0010033;2003/0013539; 2003/027724; 2003/0186756; 2003/0176230; 2003/0162599;2003/0144075; 2003/0144068; 2003/0134686; 2003/0060305; 2002/0103038;and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,136,877; 4,367,877; 4,741,535; and U.S. DesignPat. No. 434,094.

There are numerous problems with these various existing systems. Forexample, some systems tend to cause the golfer to focus so much on thevisual aspects of the putter head itself that they tend to becomedistracted and lose focus on the overall swing. In addition, some putteralignment systems tend to be better at static alignment, but poor atdynamic alignment, (i.e.: they provide poor alignment during the swingitself). Further problems common to putter alignment systems are thatthey fail to account for the fact that different golfers have differentdominant eyes (i.e.: left vs. right); and that different golfers havedifferent perspectives for static vs. dynamic alignment. In addition,different golfers tend to have different planes of swing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an alignment system for a golf putter,including: a shaft; a putter head; and a plurality of interchangeabletop plates for the putter head, wherein each of the interchangeable topplates have differing alignment indicia thereon.

In optional preferred aspects, the indicia include a series of arrows orcurved lines in alignment with one another. In various embodiments,these arrows or curved lines may either be spaced a uniform distanceapart, or be spaced progressively closer together to one another acrossthe top plate. It is to be understood, however, that the presentinvention is not limited to any particular indicia design.

In optional preferred embodiments, the indicia comprises a series ofmarkings of which one portion is a mirror image of another portion. Suchportions may preferably be of equal size. In optional aspects, thealignment indicia on different top plates include indicia havingopposite color contrasts. An advantage of the various embodiments of theindicia is that they preferably convey a visual impression of a line ofswing as the putter is swung by the golfer.

In one optional embodiment, the putter head may be made from a clearmaterial and the alignment system may also be printed onto a clearmaterial. An advantage of this see-through embodiment of the putter headis that will appear to take on the background of the green, furtherhighlighting the alignment indicia.

The plurality of interchangeable top plates for the putter head mayoptionally be slide mounted plates dimensioned to be received into theputter head; or be magnetically attached to the putter head; or simplybe adhesive stickers.

The present invention provides the advantageous method of improving agolfer's putting swing by first providing a golfer with a golf putterhaving a plurality of interchangeable top plates for its putter head;having the golfer putt with different interchangeable top plates on theputter head; having the golfer then select a preferred top plate fortheir own individual use; and having the golfer continue to putt withthe preferred top plate on the putter head. In optional embodiments, thegolfer designs the indicia on one or more of the interchangeable topplates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the present golf putter,showing one of the interchangeable top plates.

FIG. 2A is a top plan view of the top plate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is a top plan view of an alternate top plate.

FIG. 2C is a top plan view of yet another alternate top plate.

FIG. 2D is a top plan view of yet another alternate top plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention including analignment system 10 for improving the swing of a golf putter. System 10includes a golf putter 12 (including a shaft 14 and a putter head 16).System 10 further includes a plurality of interchangeable top plates 20for use with putter head 16. In accordance with the present invention,any number of different top plates 20 may be provided. Each of thevarious interchangeable top plates 20 have differing alignment indicia(i.e.: they have different markings or patterns printed or otherwisedisplayed thereon).

Different people have different dominant eyes, different contrastsensitivities, etc. Thus, different people may require their ownindividualized alignment systems. In accordance with the presentinvention, one or more interchangeable top plates 20 may be designed bythe golfer him(her)self. For example, the various indicia 21 oninterchangeable top plates 20 may be designed and then printed onmagnetic sheet paper, or on adhesive label makers (similar to personalCD label makers).

Thus, an advantage of the present system is that each golfer who usesthe present alignment system is able to try out each of the variousplurality of interchangeable top plates 20. Thus, after practicingswinging with each of the various interchangeable top plates 20, thegolfer will get a feel for whichever plate design is best suited forthem. Since different golfers are expected to have different preferredtop plate designs, the present system provides an alignment system thatcan be individually tailored to different golfers. In contrast, existingsystems for improving putting swing alignment all have a “one size fitsall” design.

FIGS. 2A to 2D show various individual top plate designs. It is to beunderstood that the present invention is not limited to the variousembodiments of top plates 20 as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2D. Rather, suchembodiments of top plates 20 are merely exemplary.

Referring first to FIG. 2A, top plate 20A has a series of arrows 21printed, etched or otherwise marked thereon. Indicia 21 may alsocomprise holograms, giving an advantageous three dimensional appearanceto the alignment system. Arrows 21 are in alignment with one another. Invarious embodiments, arrows 21 may be spaced a uniform distance apartfrom one another (as shown) or spaced progressively closer together toone another across the length of top plate 20A.

In optional preferred aspects, top plate 20A may be designed as twoportions 22A and 23A that are mirror images of another portion. Such adesign may be preferred in conveying a visual impression of the line ofswing as the putter is swung by the golfer. For example, when the putteris swung, the golfer will tend to see an imaginary line separatingportions 22A and 23A. This imaginary line will correspond identically tothe direction of swing of the golf club. Portions 22A and 23A arepreferably of equal size.

In one optional embodiment, putter head 16 is made of a clear,see-through material. In another optional embodiment, interchangeabletop plate 20 is also made of a clear, see-through material.

As shown by comparing FIGS. 2A and 2B, the alignment indicia ofdifferent top plates 20 may include indicia having opposite colorcontrasts (e.g.: see indicia 21A and 21B).

As shown in FIG. 2C, top plate 20C may comprise a series of curved lines21C in alignment with one another. Sequential curved lines 21C may bespaced progressively closer together to one another (as shown), or theymay alternatively be spaced a uniform distance apart from one another.

As shown in FIG. 2D, top plate 20D may comprise a series of straightlines 21D.

As can be seen in each of FIG. 1, the various alignment indicia 21A,21B, 21C and 21D found on top plates 20 may be disposed across asubstantial portion of the top of putter head 16. Moreover, it is to beunderstood that putter head 16 is not limited to any particular shape.As such, the embodiment of FIG. 1 is merely exemplary.

Although interchangeable top plates 20 may be flat thin plates that aredimensioned to be received into a recess in the top of putter head 16(as shown), the present invention is not so limited. For example, topplates 20 may instead be designed to be slidably received into a groovein the putter head. Also, top plates 20 may instead be magneticallyattached to the putter head. Alternatively, top plates 20 may instead beadhesive stickers.

The present system also includes a method of improving a golfer'sputting by providing a golfer with the presently described alignmentsystem 10; having the golfer putt with the different interchangeable topplates 20 on putter head 16; having the golfer select a preferred topplate (e.g.: 20A, 20B, 20C or 20D); and then having the golfer continueto putt with the preferred top plate (e.g.: 20A, 20B, 20C or 20D) onputter head 16.

The present invention also includes a kit including alignment system 10and instructions for use setting forth the above described preferredmethod. Such instructions for use may simply be printed on the packagingin which the present invention is sold, or may be included in printedform within the packaging box. Alternatively, such instructions for usemay be stored in electronic machine readable format, or provided overthe internet.

1. An alignment system for a golf putter, comprising: a plurality ofinterchangeable top plates for a golf putter head, wherein each of theinterchangeable top plates has differing alignment indicia.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein at least one of the indicia comprises: aseries of arrows in alignment with one another.
 3. The system of claim1, wherein at least one of the indicia comprises sequential arrowsspaced a uniform distance apart from one another.
 4. The system of claim2, wherein the arrows are spaced progressively closer together.
 5. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein at least one of the indicia comprises: aseries of curved lines in alignment with one another.
 6. The system ofclaim 5, wherein sequential curved lines are spaced progressively closertogether.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the indiciacomprises: a series of markings of which one portion is a mirror imageof another portion.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein each portion is ofequal size.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the differing alignmentindicia include indicia having opposite color contrasts.
 10. The systemof claim 1, wherein the alignment indicia convey a visual impression ofa line of swing as the putter is swung.
 11. The system of claim 1,wherein the alignment indicia are dimensioned to be disposed across asubstantial portion of the top of the putter head.
 12. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the interchangeable top plates are adhesive stickers.13. The system of claim 1, wherein the interchangeable top plates aredimensioned to be mounted in a recess in a top of a putter head.
 14. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the interchangeable top plates aremagnetically attached to the putter head.
 15. The system of claim 1,further comprising: the golf putter head configured to receive theinterchangeable top plates thereon.
 16. The system of claim 15, whereinthe golf putter head is made of a see-though material.
 17. The system ofclaim 16, wherein at least one of the interchangeable top plates is madeof a see-though material, and the indicia disposed thereon are not madeof a see-though material.
 18. A method of improving a golfer's putting,comprising: providing a user with the system of claim 1; having the userputt with the different interchangeable top plates on the putter head;having the user select a preferred top plate; and having the usercontinue to putt with the preferred top plate on the putter head. 19.The system of claim 18, further comprising: having the user design thealignment indicia; and having the user apply the alignment indicia toone of the interchangeable top plates
 20. A kit comprising: thealignment system of claim 1; and instructions for using the systemaccording to method claim 18.